On Wednesday, Florida’s House of Representatives passed a bill banning sanctuary cities in the the state. Furthermore, it would force local law enforcement to cooperate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as other federal agencies.

Additionally, municipalities in breach would be fined $5,000 for each day of non-compliance.

The bill — sponsored by Rep. Cord Byrd — made it through the House to the tune of 69-57.

Cord appeared on Fox last Wednesday to explain the point of the bill:

“Here’s the problem: Our state and local law enforcement officers don’t have access to the federal indices, so we don’t know if that person in Florida is using an alias. They may have committed a serious violent crime in another state, been deported, and now have come back into the United States. We see that scenario over and over and over. So before we release this potentially dangerous person back into our communities, we want to know whether or not the federal immigration authorities have reason to detain this person further.”

As reported by Miami’s CBS 4, in the state Senate, a similar bill is hovering, along with a fierce amendment by the governor:

The Senate is expected Thursday to take up its version of a sanctuary-city bill (SB 168) and consider an amendment that says the governor “may initiate judicial proceedings in the name of the state” against local or state officials who do not cooperate with enforcing immigration laws.

“The governor is supportive of this measure which reiterated his constitutional authority to remove an executive or administrative state, county or municipal” officer for violating state law, Helen Ferre, a spokeswoman for DeSantis, told The News Service of Florida.

The American Civil Liberties Union ain’t much for all this.

Responding to the House bill, the ACLU has issued a travel alert in the event that it attains the ultimate status of law.

“If Florida State Bill 168 and House Bill 527 pass, it would undermine local governments’ ability to protect the civil rights of their residents by forcing local officials to cooperate with ICE. It would also put immigrants at risk of violence, potentially forcing victims and witnesses to stay silent for fear of deportation.”

Allow me to correct the ACLU’s statement: An immigrant is one who moves to America by way of its immigration system. One who enters illegally is the alternative to an immigrant. This distinction is important, as the Left continues to call laws in favor of the nation’s immigration system “anti-immigrant” (please see here).

Quite the sleight of hand.

The warning includes a message for American citizens:

“Both Florida residents, citizens and non-citizens, and travelers could face risks of being racially profiled and being detained without probable cause.”

The ACLU is not always wrong. But when it comes to a state adhering to federal immigration law, it seems to me, the American Civil Liberties Union should take a cue from its acronym. And get aclue.

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